This seems like a giant extrapolation based on only the merest hint of any actual evidence. The big question to me, is why would Apple, the quintessential hard

This seems like a giant extrapolation based on only the merest hint of any actual evidence. The big question to me, is why would Apple, the quintessential hardware company, be going out of their way to try and sell you less hardware? They don't want you to reuse your iPhone as your main computer. They want to sell you both. In general they detest the whole concept of shoehorning bits of technology into roles they are not meant for. In Apple's eyes, each device you own is exactly optimized for its unique role. This whole thing sounds like Cringely's personal fantasy rather than anything Apple would actually do.